Buttonhole-cutter mechanism



Nov. 6, 1923. I 1,473,240

M. MCCANN BUTTONHOLE CUTTER MECHANI SM Filed June 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 6 1923.

M. MCCANN 'BUTTONHOIJE CUTTER MECHANISM- Filed June 8; 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 6, 1923. 1,4733% M. M CANN BUTTONHOLE CUTTER MECHANISM Filed June 1922 5 Sheets-ShPet 3 Nov. 6, 1923. 1,473,24fi

M. MCCANN BUTTONHOI -E CUTTER MECHANISM Filed June 8, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 6, 1923. 1,4733% M. IYIQJCANN BUTTONHOLE 611mm MECHANISM Filed June 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 6, i923.

MICHAEL MCCANN, OF GLENMORRIS, NEW .YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK OSANN COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.,

.A CORPORATION 01* new YORK.

BUTTONHOLE-CUTTER MECHANISM.

Application filed June 8,

T0 allwhom z't-mag concern.

Be it known that I, ilIICHAEL MOGANN, a citizen of the United States of America, rosiding in Glenmorris, L. 1., in the county of Queens-and State of New York, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Buttonhole-Cutter Mechanism, of which the-following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, .which form a part thereof.

My invention-relates to button hole sewing machines and hasv for its object to'provide a button hole cutter and means for actuating the cutter so interrelated andcombined with the stop mechanism as to insure not-only the correct operation of the knife .at the end oflthe machinecycle but'also the withdrawal of the button hole cutting knife to non-operative position before the machine is started for a' new. button holesewing cycle.

The nature of my improvements will be '-best understood as described in connection with the. drawings which illustrate my improvement as embodied in a button hole sewing machine mechanism of the generalcha-racter described in my pending application for Letters Patent. Serial No. 325,710 filed 23 September, 1919.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the button hole. sewing machine with the side plates of the .upper arm head removed and the side of the lower casing'cut away and with'certain parts of the -machine,having no'direct bearing on my present invention, omitted.

'Figure2 is a plan view of the'machinctaken-as on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1, and showing certain details of the mechanism omitted in Fig. 1.

"Figure 8 is a sectional elevation taken ,on the line 3--.% of Fig. 1.

Figure i, a sectional elevation taken on the line l4i of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a-view showing parts of'the mechanism shown in Figs-2 and L in the positions they occupy-at the instant when the-knife actuating clutch is throwninto engagement.

Figure 6 is a view of the parts shown in the lower part of Fig. i inthe positions they occupy at the instantwhen the clutch is en gagged.

Figure 7 is. a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the position of the parts at the period 1922. Serial No. 566,784.

in the cycle of the .machine when the cutter hasmade itsdownward stroketo. cut a button hole.

Figure 81s a plan view-showing. thelposition of the parts shown in :F ig.:5 .atthe period in the cycle of the machine-corresponding to thatshown in Fig.7.

Figure 9. is a View similar to FigtS with the parts in the position theyloccupy when the machine is stopped.

Figure 10 1 is a view of the same parts shown in Fig. 9. in theposition they occupy during the retraction of thestop mechanism and immediately beforethe-full retraction of the stop mechanism.

Figure 11 is a side view taken on the line 11-41 of Fig. 9.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12of Fig.12, showing acertainjdetail of the machine, and

Figure 13 is a side elevation showing the bell crank lever used in the starting of the machine.

A indicates the casing enclosingthe lower part of thesewing machine mechanism, A the hollow vertical arm-of the machine; A the horizontal upper arm'of the machineand A the head of the machine, the ,upper-jhorizontal portion of the casing A,ymaking up the table of the'machine, has'anopening indicated'at B which gives clearance to a certain part of the feed actuating "mechanism, and another opening at B for the .passageof the needles. 0 and C indicatezdownwardly extending websof the casingA which serve as supports for certain parts-of the machine,

and C is also a downwardlyeXtending-portion of the casing A which servesias abearing for the shaft indicated at F. D is the main driving shaft of the machine-the end of which, which extends beyond the right hand end of the casing, hasattached to-it the stop disc D havinga braking surface D formed on or attached to its face and'a' stop recess D extending from its face inward as shown. D is the fast pulley attached to the disc D and D the loose pulley. D is aneccentric secured to the shaft D; D agear wheel secured to said shaft; D a cam secured to the shaft D and having an annular head D which extends beyond the lower portion of the cam, as. shown in Fig. 12. D indicates, although not in detail,-an:eccentrio secured ,onthe "shaft D" and through it the cam shaft, to be described, is actuated.

ill)

pivoted at'F and is formed with- D is a cam .secured on the shaft D and through it motion is given to. a. certain part of the machine not directly connected w1th my present invention.

tion of which is indicated at E gives areciprocating movement to the needle bar E carrying atits lower end the needles E F is a gear wheel engaged with and driven by the gear Wheel D on the shaft D and attached to the shaft F to the other endof which shaft is attached a cam connected at F This cam gives a rocking motion to a which it is connected to the lever arm-H,

' to be described, said lever Gtbeing formed with the slide block slot G which in the position of'the machine indicated, for instance, in Fig. 3, registers with the slide block slot in the block F the connection of the arm Gr of the lever G with the lever H is made, as indicated in Fig. 3,'through a slide block and the lever His attached to a rock shaft H which at its left hand end is provided with a lever arm H connected to a shaft H to which are attached the loopers H and-which is given a rocking motion in proper timingwith the operation of the needles by a mechani sm indicated,

though not indetail, at H such mechanism aving no direct connection with my present invention. V g V I is a cam shaft seated in the lower part of the machine and actuated by'the eccentric device indicated atD throughan eccentric rod 1 and'a ratchet actuating clutch cam securedon 'the shaft I and by means of which motion isiglven to the feed mecha-' msm of the machme; '1 1s a disc secured on cam-curve indicated in Fig. 8. I" which perhaps should'be referred to as indicatedpthough not in detail, at 1?, I indicating' a clutch the function of which is to holdthe shaft I stationary between the intermittent periods of motion givento it by the eccentric actuated clutch I I is a the shaft I and I a cam also secured on the shaft I'and having formed on its face the The disc a cam, is provided with an adjustable finger "I and with arecess indicated "at l and ex- -itendin ginward from; the left hand side of the disc as best indicated perhaps in Fig. 1.

J is a pivoted lever to'which reciprocat- E is aneccentric rod actuated'bythe eccentric D and connected'at its upperend through a'lever arm E with a rock shaft E Y which through certain mechanism, the posi-" ing motion is given by thecam I, see Figs. 1 and 2, and inthe curved uppersurfaccof which is the adjustable slideblock in- I dicated at J, said slide block being con .nected with the feed mechanism partially indicated at J Kis a lever pivoted at K, see Fig. 3, having a cam roller K projecting from it .into the cam I and connected through a rod K with a lever K pivoted at K, the

-' connection being made through the slot K of said lever-and said lever carrying at its free end slide'blocks, one moving in 'the slot G of the lever G and the other in the corresponding slot in the "pivoted block F L is a rock shaft extending froln'th'e upper arm of the machine and connected-by mechanism indicated at L with a, reciprocating rod L 'guided in the head ofthe machine and carrying at its lower end the knife L for cutting the button hole. L" is a leverarmattached to the shaft L and connected through apin L with a linkrL pivotally connected at its upper end to a lever arm L attached toa longitudinally movable. clutch member L which slides onthe member L permanently attached to said shaft.

M is a longitudinally 'movableshaft for' actuating the stop motion of the belt shifter.

T0 its right hand end is attached the forked lever M to one arm of which'is secured the stop finger M and also attached to the right hand end of the shaft M is the belt shifter M m indicating the belt. M and M are fbufier pads secured to the shaft M andlimiting its travel in both directions. M is an arm secured to the right hand end of the shaft M and carrying the thread cutter indicated at M M is a spring acting to f pressthe shaft M toward the ri-ghthnclM,

see Figs 2 and 13, a lever which in practice rock shaft E and is engageable with aclutch V is connected with a treadleand by which 7 the shaft M is moved toward the leftwhen it 1s desired to start the machine. 'Pivotally connected' to the shaft M is the locking bar i N having projecting upward from its upper face the adjustable, latch locking pinindicated at N, thefree end N of the locking bar or of ail-extension from the locking bar extends to'a positionawhere in certain posi- :tionsof the mechanisin it contacts with the edge of the lever P and is notched asindicated at "N soas to clear the disc I When the parts are in position shown in- F ig. 2 the locking bar N is pressed upwardby a spring N supported on a foot' N 4 secured to the shaft M asshownin' Figs. 6 and 7'. i I

O is a pivot pin extending downward froinfthe housing. of. the machine and sup-. porting a locking latch O which is, as

shown, in the form of a'bellcrank lever normally pressed to operative position by a spring indicated at O 'P is a clutch actuating lever, 'theupper arm-P of which is engaged'with'the clutch member L and which is pivoted intheverticalarm A of the'casing at "P. Pflin' Figs. 1 and 4, is a perforation formed in the upper part of the lever P, the lower arm o'fthe lever being formed witha guide slot, as indicated at'Pt, and extending downto "a position inwhic h its edge, i'nthe normally operative "adjustment of the mach'i'ne,"will contact with the'locking bar N,t be described. P is a pin or roller secured' to the lower arm of the lever P and' resting during the operation of the machineon'the'face of the disc I except when inthe'revolution of the disc the inlet I comes into-registry with the pin. 1 is a slide bar {guided on the lever P and with its lower end'P Wvorking in the slotted lower end-of said lever, the-upper end "of the slide bar being engaged, through a slot, as indicatedi inFig. at. with the pivot pin L The length'ofthe slide bar P is such that when the button hole cutter is in retractedposition"itslower end is retracted'withinthe forked endP of the lever but is projected below the 'endof the lever when the cutteris moved down to cut the button hole. P is a spring acting to push the upper arm of the'lever Ptoward the left. P isa cylinder secured onthe end of anarm p which is attached'to the end of the rock shaft L, asp'ring P being located in the end of the cylinder and actingfto push the locking pin P foiwvard, saidfpin being arranged to engage theperforation P in the lever P'when said lever is retracted and the cutter "is also in upper retra(':ted position.

Q, see Figs.2'and 12, is a: bar pivotally attached to the shaft M and having, as

shown, an edge Q"arranged to contact with theside of the cam D" n'nder conditions to be described, the bar Q having also, as

shown, a projecting arm Q upon which [R at R is a slide R 'movin in av uidewa R to which a lateral reciprocation is imparted by a mechanisnnnot shown, the slide R carrying at its end a fingerindicated "at R which in my complete machinehasto'do with the guiding of the loops during certain part of the button'hole stitching operation.

To start the machine the stop shaft M is moved toward the left carrying with it the pivotedlocking bar N" and the pivoted bar Q and the locking bar N during this movement being in its uppermost position its locking pin N, Figs. Qand presses agalnst Fig. 1, inwhich it moves the clutch member the function of which is, through thefdescribed connections, "to actuate the finger *R the beveled "end "of the latch lock 0' and finally engages with the latch" lock, as shown inFig. 2,'locking'the-shaft M and its attachments Position own in Fig.9. Derg the"moveme'nt of the locking b N "toward the left its edge contacts with and "presses the lower end of the lever P 'toward the le'ft, moving the upper end of this lever to the right or to the position --shown "in L out'oi engagement-with the-fixed clutch "member L and the rock shaft L being, at

'the-time'th'e machine comes to a stop, in

position-to retract'theknife L a pin P connected, "as described. to lever arm p attached to the end of theshatt L will-engage in the detentperforation P and hold "the rock shaft L in fixed position'during the stitching 0f the button hole.

When the stop shaft- M is 'inthe; position shown in Fig. 2 the belt m is onthe fast pulley D and thedriving shaft of .the ma chine isput in operation, impartingmotion 'to the rockshaft E which actuatesthe needle bar through the described 'conncc tions, rotating the canr'F on the shaft F rotating, of course, the cam 'D" attached to the shaft D and'the eccentric indicated at D and'also rotatin'g,of course, the cam D,

which, however, having no essential con- "nection with'the. present invention need not be further described.

The rotation of the eccentric attached to the shaft D, as indi-' cated'at D ,'throug'h the "eccentric rodl and a clutch mechanism actuated by said eccentric rod imparts the step by step movement to t'heshaft Igiving, of course, a' step bystep-movement to the cams attached to said shaft, the cam I regulating the movement ot the f t'eedtplate, and the cam I", through the mechanism best'shown in Fig. 3, moving the-lever K**upward and downward solas to "move the slide blocksconnected with it, at K, to and away trom'a point 111 which their centers "will register-"with the pivot of the the "pivoted center of theblock'b'ut," when the slide blocks are moved upwardin the "sl0ts,'gives arockin'g actiontothe lever G wvhich is imparted to the "rockshaift G'and 'through'it'to theneedle'bar guide G andis imparted also by the described connections tothe rock shaftHand through it'tothe sliding shaft H to which the loopers H "are attached, the effect being that when'the "lever G is stationary a "straight line of stitche is thrown by eachneedle and when the lever isivibrated zigzag stitches of a length determined by the cam path of. the

cam I are formed by the needles and loopers.

The described iinteraction of, the locking baril with the clutch actuating lever: P by meansof which this lever is actuated "to disengage the clutch in the actof starting the machine is a featureiof my present invention and is of importance because tq nsures the disengagement of the, clutch .b'efor'e' the machine starts to. sew albutton hole and, h

' Lthereforeyinsures thatthe button hole cutter shall not operate after the machine is i started and disengagement of the knife actuating mechanism can be equally w'ellassured .Where a cam is relied upon to efiiec-t the disengagemei'itof the clutch.

It will be obvioiisthat the shifting of the lower end. of the lever P to the, position shown in Fig. 2 disengages the pin P from the notch in the disc I and :it will also he obv ous that, n locked position, the end oil the lock ng bar is, as is well shown in. Fig;

4, in the direct path of the finger adj ustably attached to the disc. I .'-Tl1e cycle of the'machine in sewing a biitto nhole up to the time when it is dQS-llfll tllfll; the button hole cutter shoiild operate takes place diir- 'ing'one rotation of the shaft Idand; as; the

the locking pin N. still .engagedwith the latch lock O'hiit clearing the locked end P v of the lever with the result that .the

spring? presses the upper endj of thelever to the left and presses theiloose clutch member L 'into en agement with the fixed clutch member L and with the furtherresiilt that through the mechanism described in. connection with Figwl, a rockingaction is given "to the shaft L and, t hrough it,1to the cutter pwhich is pressed'down to cutthe button hole @and, willjo f course, at, onceretractwith the jrfollowing' reverse reciprocation 'oi? ,the

shaft The rocking n'iotion giveii to the shaft L through the pin L attachedf to the lever aim L presses, down theslide P9 withthe result that. itsllower end 1 con- "tacts withwand presses down the locking lever, asishown, in Fig 7., so as release its locking pin N t'roni the latch lock and, so far as this locking devicefis concerned, to permit the .stop arm Ml'to move' toward the right. The actual movement of the'locking 'bar to an extent to effectrthe stoppage of the machine is, however,flin the illustrated construction dependent also on the camD", that is,'the' release of the locking shaftM toward the right will only comfpletely release the shaftM' whentl e pivot bar Q isin such relationship to the cam I) as to permit this. cam to pass under it. At

any other time the bar Q contacts with, the

side of thecam-D? and holds the stop shaft.

'fromcompleting its movement until the cam has come to itsproper. pos tion. Th scam D znotl only periorms this fllIlCtlOIl. 1n farresting the movement of the stop motion but also, lifts the pivot bar Q, and through it therodqQ which, as I have stated, actu ates apull' off .on the upper part of the machine-Q 7' Y lW/Vhen the lockingshaft M is released by both locking; devices it moves'first in the positionsho'wn in F ig. 8 where the finger.

is inconta'ct with the. plate D? of the disc I)? and-the projection'ofthe finger ,on the plate acts, asa brake to check thefvelocity of the machine prior to the registrationwith the finger M to the stop recess D? in the disc QlVhenthis registration occurs the shaft M moves to its furthest right I hand position as; shown in Fig.9; thebelt shiften M shifting the belt to the loose pulley and the motion of the machine-being arrestedby'the engage nent oi the finger The timing of the machine is se n that its 'motion'is arrested'. at a point in the cycle of movement of itsparts when the cutter is fully retracted or, in other words, just as one complete reciprocal rocking movement. is given to the shaft-L. 'lhis of course, retracts the slide bar P andth'e complete right hand motion of theshaft M carries the lockinghar Nv'f rom beneath the-end of thelever P to the position shown iii-Fig. 9 and the spring N pushes the locking 'bar upward to the position shown in Fig. 4: and

it will be evident that the 'clutch is left in,

engagement when the machine comes to a stop and the clutch-actuating lever- Pin corresponding clutch engaging position To lie-start the machine the stop shaftgiw is moved toward the left until vthe abutn ent M comes in contact with. the frame of the inachine', that' is, shifted from; the position shown-in Fig/ilto that snownin F 2. "lhiswithdraws the lockingii'ngei" M and shit'ts the belt-to the fast pulley. lhis. niovementfo'f the shaft M of course, carries, .with it the/locking bar N which in moving froin the"position shownyinjFig; 9,

c'ontactswith the end P of theleverflP and shifts it to the positionfsh own in Fig.2 in

which the pin P is completelywithdrawn fronrthe recess Fill the disc 1 This motion ofth'e lever P retracts theloose clutch ember-L? as shown in Fig. 1,'and brings the recess P3 intoengagement with tl1fil1- ger P as shown in F igQl', this engagement- I v preventingany. movement 1 or" the-shaft L bar. N. permittingthe movement ofthe stop andof the cutter actuated by it duringthe sewing of the button hole.

Wards the left from the position shown in Fig. 9 through the position shown in Fi 10 to that shown in Fig. 2, results in the engagement of the locking pinv N with the latch lock 0' in the manner shown in these drawings and the locking shaft and its connections being thus locked in operative position the machine performs its cycle of operation in sewing a button hole at the end of which the finger 1 as already described, contacts with the end N of the locking lever pressing it down, as shown in Fig. (5, until it releases the lever P which is then actuated by its spring to move the clutch member L into engagement with, the clutch member L and actuate the cutter as described, the slid bar P being moved downward simultaneously with the cutter with the result that its end P pushes the locking bar downward, as shown in Fig. 7, releasing the pin N from the latch lock and permitting, under the conditions already described, the movement of the stop shaft M to disengage the driving pulley and arrest the movement of the parts.

It is sometimes desirable to finish a button hole without cutting it and for this purpose I provide a manually operable deviee for holding the movable. clutch member out of engagement when its actuating mechanism would, at the comple tion of the button hole, tend to move it to engaging position. As shown, this mechanism consists of a rod: T contacting. with lever P at T and ending in a push button T in the front of the head A T is a spring holding rod'T normally in non-operating position. Obviously,by pressing on the button T the rod T will press against th lever P and prevent it and its controlled clutch from moving to clutch engaging position. Obviously, alSo, this device can be used with any mechanism for actuating lever P at proper times.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1'. In a button. hole sewing machine comprising. a driving. shaft, a rock shaft actuated thereby for actuating the needles, a. button hole cutter, a rock shaft for actuating the cutter. fixed and movable clutch members on the needle actuating shaft. meansfor. actuating the cutter shaft connected to the movable clutch mem be]: and actuated when said movable member is engaged by the fixed member, a longitudinallymovable shaft and means aetuated thereby for stopping: the machine, means for engagingv and disengaging the cutteractuating. clutch. in proper timing with the stopping and; starting of the ma.- chine consisting of a pivoted lever. for shiftingthe movable clutch. member-to and from engagement with. the fixed, member, locking meansfor holding saidlever. in retracted position during the stitching of the button hole and releasing it as said stitching is completed and means, actuated by the shifting of the stop actuating shaft to start the machine, for shifting the clutch actuating lever to retracted position.

2. In a button hole sewing machine comprisii'ig a driving shaft, a rock shaft ac tuated thereby for actuating the needles, a button hole cutter, a rock shaft for actuat-. ing the cutter, fixed and movable clutch members on the needle actuating shaft, means for actuating the cutter shaft connected to the movable clutch member and actuated when said movable member is engaged by the fixed. member, a longitudinally movable shaft and means actuated thereby for stopping th machine, means for engaging and disengaging the cutter actuating clutch in proper timing with the stopping and starting of the machine consisting of a pivoted lever for shifting the movable clutch member to and from engagement with the fixed member, locking means for holding said lever in retracted position, during the stitching of the button hole and releasing it as said stitching is completed, a latch lock for holding the stop actuating shaft in retracted position. means actuated through the engagement of the clutch member acting to release the latch lock simultaneously with the operation of the cutter and means for retracting the clutch operating le er and disengaging the clutch operating at the restarting of the machine.

In a button hole sewing machine comprising a driving shaft, a rock shaft actuated thereby for actuating the needles, a button hole cutter, a rock shaft for actuating the cutter, fixed and movable clutch members on the needle actuating shaft, means for actuating the cutter shaft connected to the movable clutch member and actuated when said movable member is engaged by the fixed member, a longitudinally movable shaft and means actuated thereby for stopping the machine, means for engaging and disengaging the cutter actuating clutch in proper timing with the stopping and starting of the machine consisting of a pivoted'lever for shifting the movable clutch member to and from engagement with the fixed member. locking means for holding said lever in retracted position, during. the stitching of the button hole and releasing it as said stitching is completed. a latch lock for holding the stop actuating shaft in retracted position. means actuated through the engagement of the clutch member acting; to release the latch lock simultaneously with the operation of the cutter and means, actuated bv the shifting of the-stop actuating shaft to start the inachin'egfor shifting the clutch actuating lever to retracted: position.

4. In a button hole sewingmachine comprising a driving shaft, a rock shaft actuated thereby foractuating the needles, a button :hole cutter, a rock shaft for actuating thercutter, fixed and movable clutch members on the needle actuating shaft, means for actuating the cutter shaft connected to the mov'ableclutch member and actuated when said movable member is engaged, by the fixed member, a longitudinally movable shaft and means actuated thereby for stop ping the machine, means for-engaging and disengaging the cutter actuating'clutch in proper timing with the stopping and starting of the machine, consisting o-fa pivoted lever for shifting the movable clutch member to and from engagement with the fixed; member, a locking barpivotally secured on the stop actuating'shaft'andheld in elevated position by resilient means, said bar and the lower end of the clutch actuating lever being so located that the barxwhen in elevated position with the stop: actuating i-*,'haic re tracted, contacts with and holds the lever in retracted position and "clears: and releases the lever when depressed, a latch lock for holding the locking bar and the stop shaft in retracted position constructed as described to release thebar when it is depressed beyond a definite point, means operating intimed relation to the operation'of the machine and actingto depress the looking barto a pointwhere it releases the clutch operating lever and means actuated by theengagement of the clutch members operating to depressthe bar further and re lease it from the 1001: holding it and the stop shaft againstlateral movement. 7

5. Ina button hole sewing machine comprisinga driving shaft, a rock shaft actuated thereby for actuating the needles, a but ton hole cutter, a rock shaft for actuating the cutter, fixed and movableclutch mem bers'on the needle actuating shaft, means for actuating the cutter shaft connected to the movable clutch member andactuated when saidmovable member is engaged by the fixed member, a longitudinally movable shaftand means actuated thereby for stopping the machine, means for engaging and disengaging v the cutter actuating clutch in proper timing with the stopping and starting of the machine, consisting of'a pivotedlever for shifting the-movable clutch member to and from engagement with the-fixed member,a look barwhen it is depressed-beyond a definite point, meansoperating in timed relation'to the operation ofthe machine and acting to depress the locking bar to a point whereit releasestheclutch operating lever, a slide plate guided on theclutch actuating lever latch loclgand means" actuated-by the clutch Vwhen vengaged whereby said slidefiplate is moved, downward simultaneously with the operation, of the cutter and retracted'as the cutter is retracted. f t I 6. In a buttonhole sewing machine comrisin a drivin shaft a rock shaft actua v I: 7

ated thereby for actuating the needles, a button hole cutt/er, a rock shaftfor actuating the cutter, fixed and movable-clutch members on the needle actuating shaft, means for actuating the cutter shaft connectedfto the movable clutch member and actuated when said movable member is engaged by the fixed member,'a longitudinally movable shaft and means actuated thereby for stopping the machine, means fQrengagingJa-nd disengaging the cutter actuating clutch in proper timing with-the stopping and starting of the machine consisting of a pivoted lever for shifting the movable clutoh'memher to and from engagement with the fixed member, a locking bar pivotally secured on the stop actuatingtshaftand held in elevated position by resilient means, said bar'and the lower endof the clutch actuating leverlbe ing so located that thebar when in elevated position with the stop actuating shaft res tracted,contacts with and holds the lever in retracted position and clears andreleases the lever when depressed, a latch 100k for bold ing the locking bar and the stop shaft in retracted position constructed as described to release the bar when it isdepressed beyond a definite point, a cam moving in timed relation to the stitching'ofthe button hole'opcrating to hold the clutch actuating lever "inretracted position and to-release'itfiwhen the clutch is to be engagedsaid' cam havinga finger ope'ratingon the-locking; bar to depressittoa point where'it will release the clutch operating lever and means actuated by the engagement of the clutchjmembers operating to depress thebar'further andrelease. it. from the lock'holding it'and' the stop shaft against'lateral movement: i

- 7. In a button hole sewing machine ofxthe' kind describedhaving a rock shaftv for-actuating the needles,- a second; rock shaft for actuating a button hole cutter, fast and loose clutch members on the needle shaft, means whereby the rock cutter shaft is actuated when the clutch members are engaged, a piv oted lever for moving the movable clutch. member into and out of engagement and means for actuating said lever in timed relation to the operation of the machine, the device for locking the cutter and its shaft in retracted position consisting of a locking pin secured to the cutter rock shaft andlocated to engage the clutch actuating lever when it is in retracted position.

8. In a button hole sewing machine comprising a driving shaft, a rock shaft actuated thereby for actuating the needles, a rock shaft for actuating the cutter, fixed and movable clutch members on the needle actuating shaft and means for actuating the cutter shaft connected to the movable clutch member so as to be actuated when the clutch members are engaged :the mechanism for moving the clutch member which consists of a pivoted lever connected to the clutch at its upper end, a spring acting on said lever to move it into clutch engaging position, means acting on the lower end of said lever to hold it in clutch disengaging position during the stitching of the button hole and to release it as the stitching is completed,

and manually operable means for holding the movable clutch member out of engagement when it is desired to finish the button hole without cutting.

9. In a button hole sewing machine comprising a driving shaft, a rock shaft actuated thereby for actuating the needles, a rock shaft for actuating the utter, fixed and movable clutch members on the needle actuting shaft and means for actuating the cutter shaft connected to the movable clutch member so as to be actuated when the clutch members are engaged :--the mechanism for moving the clutch member which consists of a pivoted lever connected to the clutch at its upper end, a spring acting on said lever to move it into clutch engaging position, means acting on the lower end of said lever to hold it in clutch disengaging position during the stitching of the button hole and to release it as the stitching is completed, and a push button and rod manually operable from the front of the machine whereby the lever and connected clutch member can be held in inoperative position.

MICHAEL MQCANN. 

